For the past ten years, Pilot has worked alongside Nicholas Hammond. Since that fateful 2012 cup of excellence tasting, they have watched, in amazement, an upward trajectory of farm growth, mill innovation, and coffee quality. The precision in sorting and processing Nico's cherries has made San Martin Jilotepeque a destination of choice for coffee production. But it goes beyond quality: Nico's mill operates 24/24 for local farmers to deliver and sell their cherries, making Catalan an invaluable economic center for the community.

Although many varieties of coffee are grown here, red and yellow Bourbons are a big part of the operation, and for good reason. This silky smooth batch features both Bourbons left with a fair amount of mucilage on the seeds when drying them on raised beds. There is a clear correlation between Nico's honey treatment and the rich, sweet fig notes found in the cup. It's a coffee you never get tired of.

Many more things are coming to celebrate 10 years of the direct commerce partnership. Stay tuned !

This coffee carries the Rainforest Alliance Certified ™ label, which helps ensure environmentally and socially responsible production and harvesting practices. This label is awarded to agricultural and forestry operations that meet the rigorous criteria of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard or the Forest Stewardship Council. To learn more, visit ra.org.